It is almost legend – the BeaverTails® pastry business, which has gone global as a Canadian symbol, was launched in the Killaloe area in the 1970s. Now, in celebration of its roots, the company is sponsoring a charity rally for cyclists and walkers on July 28 organized by the Killaloe and Area Lions Club and Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation (OVCATA). Everyone who registers and participates gets a BBQ lunch, entertainment and a BeaverTail, with proceeds going in support of the Club’s Ottawa Valley Vision project. Above from left: Kathy Eisner, Jeremy Steenberg, Rachelle Clayton, Bob Peltzer, and Ish Theilheimer of OVCATA make plans for the first-ever Tour de BeaverTails in Killaloe, Ontario. (Photo submitted)
“We are proud of our community and we want to bring as many people as possible to Killaloe to experience its many pleasures,” says Lions Vice President Rachelle Clayton. “And getting lots of people out and involved will help us. There are a lot of Ottawa Valley residents, especially school kids, who struggle with sight problems and don’t realize it. Early detection in school age children can alleviate all sorts of learning problems. Killaloe Lions are raising money to purchase an eye refractor machine and train community volunteers to go into area schools, senior centres, and other identified groups to conduct vision screening.”
Along with free BeaverTails for all riders and hikers, served from Killaloe’s own permanent BeaverTails kiosk on Brennan’s Creek just off Queen Street, the Killaloe BeaverTails operation will be contributing $500 to help the Lion’s Club raise funds for the eye refractor.
While there are a number of area bike rallies over the course of the summer, this one is unique in that it includes a heritage walk in addition to self-guided rides of various lengths. “You don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy and benefit from physical activity,” says OVCATA co-chair Bob Peltzer, one of the organizers of the event. “And Killaloe is a great place for a hike, with all its old-time scenic beauty, the covered bridge, Killaloe Pathways Park and lots to see.”
There are four cycling routes including a 10-km family ride, a 50-km gravel route, and two road rides. The 63-km ride passes through many points of interest including Pikwakanagan First Nation, the tiny hamlet of Augburgs with its three pretty churches, Cormac on the day of the annual St. Anne’s Pilgrimage and the old mill in Old Killaloe. The 97-km ride passes Gorman Lake, the villages of Rockingham and Combermere, Crooked Slide Park, two beaches, Foymount (by the “back way”) and Cormac before heading back to Killaloe. All rides and the walk begin and end at the covered bridge in Station Park in Killaloe.
Registration cost is $75 for adult riders and $35 for youth riders and hikers.
The website describing the event is here: https://tourdebeavertails.blogspot.com/
The link for registration is here: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=35124
Theilheimer,I.,OVCATA(2024,July5) BeaverTails and Killaloe Lions team up for charity hike & bike rally July 28 [ media release]
